Chair desk frame



Oct. 9, 1962 w. J. BARGEN ETAL 3,057,659

CHAIR DESK FRAME Filed April 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS M0,? Jfiaea m 219090124 (546415 BY AZM- MM ATTORNEYS 06L 1962 w. J. BARGEN ETAL 3,057,659

CHAIR DESK FRAME Filed April 21, 19 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 9, 1962 3,057,659 CHAIR DESK FRAME William James Bar-gen, Waukegan, Ill., and Mathilda K. Bargen, Twin Lakes, Wis. Filed Apr. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 104,628 9 Claims. (Cl. 297-170) This invention relates to a chair desk frame or chair frame, and has as its primary object the provision of an improved unitary support for a chair and/or a chair and a desk top.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a support which is flexible, permitting adjustment as to height, and which is also so constructed as to permit a degree of self-leveling at the floor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a chair desk frame or chair frame which can be readily stacked for shipment or storage.

A further object is the provision of a resilient chair frame which is cushioned through appropriate bends in the wings and legs providing increased comfort for the user and reduces fatigue.

A further object resides in the provision of a desk top frame which, because of the relating resiliency of its components, is of greater durability.

Still another object is the provision of chair glides which reduce noise and floor chatter and preclude the passage of vibration to the horizontal chair legs.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a support of this character which is provided with ample leg room at the floor, which is resilient in its construction for comfort, which is provided with substantially floating wings beneath the seat and back, removing structural strain from both the seat and back, and which is provided with a controlled oblong frame spreading the load under the desk top.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a unit which is self strengthening without the aid of supplementary units, which provides a balanced under structure at the floor maintaining complete balance of the top under extreme weight, and which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in use, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, and utilize.

till other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of chair desk frame embodying the instant inventive concept, a desk top and a chair seat being schematically illustrated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the frame of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of support for a chair only, with the chair seat and back being illustrated in dotted lines;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the frame of FIG. 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 1; and

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 7 showing a modified form of construction.

Similar reference characters refer to similar part throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, the chair and desk frame of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10, and includes a base formed of four generally L-shaped legs 11, 12, 13, and 14. The vertical portions of the legs are juxtaposed, as indicated in FIG. 1, and welded together as by arc welding 15, adjacent their upper extremities and interiorly of the columns as at 15a inside the well formed by bends in the legs to form a single unitary column. Rear legs 11 and 13 have horizontal portions 11a and 13a of substantially the same length, which extend rearwardly of the support, and at the end of each of these legs there is provided a uniaversally mounted glide or foot plate 13b and 11b.

Each glide comprises a metal foot plate 70 to the upper surface of which is secured an apertured dome-shaped portion 71. The bulbous end of a stem 72 extends interiorly of the dome-shaped portion 71 to provide a universal mounting. The end of each leg 11a and 13a is closed by a fibrous plug 73 which includes a bore 74 having a shoulder 75 therein. The stem 73 extends through a suitable opening 76 in the underside of the horizontal portion of the leg and extends into the bore, stem 72 having a groove 77 therein to engage the shoulder 75 securely to hold the stern in position.

In a modified form of construction, as shown in FIG. 8, the structure is identical except that the underside of foot plate 70 is provided with a rubber disc 78 secured thereto.

Leg 12 has a horizontal portion 12a extending forwardly and outwardly and provided with a similar glide 1212, the leg 12a extending under the forward corner of a desk supported by the frame and being of slightly greater length than the portions 11a and 13a. Leg 14 has an elongated horizontal portion 14a of greater length than any of the others which extends forwardly as best shown in FIG. 2 to substantially underlie the portion of the frame which is adapted to support the desk. Leg 14a is also provided with a glide 14b universally mounted in the same manner as those previously described.

Certain of the tubular uprights, as for example, the forwardly extending legs 12 and 13, are provided with interior reinforcing sleeves 12c and 14c.

A rectangular sleeve 20 is positioned over the column formed by the upright or vertical portions of the legs 11, 12, 13, and 14, and has secured thereto on opposite sides U-shaped members 21, each consisting of a bight 21a and legs 21b and 210. The legs 21b are longer than the legs 21c, and constitute the front portion of the seat assembly. The ends of each leg are flattened and apertured at 21d and are adapted to have positioned thereon a chair frame 22 as indicated in FIG. 1. In the interest of effective balance the sleeve is positioned toward the forward end of the bight portions 21a.

The outer faces of legs 21b have secured thereto a horizontal pipe section 23, the securing taking the form of welding 24 or the like. Pipe section 23 comprises a portion of a U-shaped member having a vertically angularly extended bight portion 25, which extends upwardly and forwardly from the section 22, and a second leg 26 which extends in parallelism to the leg 23 and spaced forwardly therefrom relative to the edge of the seat 22. A second tubular member 27 of less diameter than the leg 26 has its end inserted in the member 26 and is secured by welding 28 in position therein. The member 27 comprises a portion of the desk supporting frame, which includes a forwardly extending member 29, an integral transversely extending portion 30 and a rearwardly extending portion '31. The end of portion 31 terminates adlike which are extended through openings 34 in metal straps 35 which are secured, as by welding, transversely across the members 29, 30, and 31.

It will thus be seen that there is herein provided a unitary substantially self-aligning, sturdy and durable frame and support for both the chair and the desk top allowing ample foot and leg room.

Means are also provided for adjusting the relative height of the frame, and take the form of set screws 36 which are extended through suitable openings in a plate 37 secured to sleeve 20, the arrangement being such that the height of the sleeve relative to the tops of the leg members may be suitably adjusted to accommodate various sizes of users. Indentations or openings 38 (see FIG. 4) are cut into the plate 37 and extend between, illustratively, the rear legs 11 and 13, permitting relatively tight clamping of the sleeve in any selected position of adjustment.

FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose a modified form of support adapted particularly for use with a chair alone. This frame is generally indicated at 50 and includes legs 51, 52, 53, and 54, the upper portions of the vertical extensions thereof being welded together as at 55 with the interior of the lower vertical extensions Welded as at 55a. Rear legs 51 and 53 have horizontal extensions 51a and 53a which carry at their extremity universally mounted foot portions 51b and 53!), these portions being identical to the previously described foot portions 11b, etc.

Similarly, the front legs 52 and 54 have horizontal portions 52a and 54a with universally mounted glides similar to the glide 11b at the end 52b and 5412. In this instance the rear legs 51a and 53a are longer than the front legs 52a and 54a to afford better balance. This frame also includes a rectangular sleeve 60 which is similar to the previously described sleeve 20 which has attached thereto a pair of oppositely facing U-shaped members 61, each of which includes a bight 61a and a pair of legs 61b and 61c. The legs in this instance may be of the same length, or if desired, the legs 61b may be longer than the legs 610. In the arrangement for a chair alone, the sleeve is welded as by means of welding 62 to the bights of the U-shaped members at a point spaced toward the rear thereof, since the balance i different from that which exists in the case of the combination chair and desk support. The ends of legs 61b and 610 are flattened as at 61d and apertured to receive bolts or screws for securing a chair seat thereto. In this arrangement the sleeve 60 is slidable on the tops of the legs, and is held in position by means of suitable set screws 65.

Obviously, if desired, sleeve 20 or 60 may be omitted and the upper ends of the legs welded directly to the U-shaped members or wings to provide a non-adjustable chair.

The unique construction of the chair desk and chair frames above described readily permits the stacking of the frames when desired, and the resilient construction affords material increased comfort and consequent absence of fatigue to the user.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved supporting frame for an article of furniture such as a combination chair and desk or chair alone, which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modificatoins may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A support frame for an article of furniture comprising a plurality of substantially L-shaped members having vertical and horizontal legs, the vertical legs being fixedly secured to form a column, said horizontal portions being of irregular length and resting on a supporting surface, and a furniture supporting element including a movably mounted vertically extending sleeve member surrounding said column, said furniture supporting element including a pair of horizontally disposed opposite U-shaped elements having their bights welded to said movable sleeve member, and a desk supporting frame element including a horizontal member secured to the aligned legs of said U-shaped members on one side there of.

2. A support frame for an article of furniture comprising a plurality of substantially L-shaped members having vertical and horizontal legs, the vertical legs being fixedly secured to form a column, with the horizontal portions resting on a supporting surface, and a furniture supporting element including a vertically extending sleeve member surrounding said column, said furniture supporting element including a pair of horizontally disposed opposite U-shaped elements having their bights welded to said sleeve member, and a desk supporting frame element including a horizontal member secured to the aligned legs of said U-shaped members on one side thereof, said desk supporting element including a substantially vertically disposed C-shaped member, the lower leg of which comprises said horizontal member, and a generally rectangu lar desk top supporting frame extending horizontally from the upper leg of said C-shaped member.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein certain of the horizontal portions of said legs are longer than others and extend beneath said desk supporting element.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said horizontal portions of said legs are provided at their ends with universally mounted foot members.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said sleeve is apertured to receive set screws, and set screws are positioned in said apertures for holding said sleeve and its associated elements at a desired height relative to said column.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein each foot member includes a stem and the end of each horizontal leg portion is closed by an apertured plug, the stem extending into the aperture in said plug through an opening in the underside of the leg portion and being secured thereto, ttlie end of said stern being inwardly secured in a foot g ide.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the underside of said foot glide is provided with a rubber pad.

8. In a hollow tubular leg structure for an article of furniture, non-chattering glides mounted on the ends of said legs, said mountings including plastic sound deadening fasteners for securing said glides to said legs.

9. A support frame structure for furniture, said frame comprised of tubular members having outwardly extending leg forming portions and upper closely grouped adjacent portions secured to the underside of the article of furniture and to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,150,903 Bargen Mar. 21, 1939 2,319,202 Bargen May 18, 1943 2,678,683 Bargen May 18, 1954 2,910,803 Close Nov. 3, 1959 2,968,116 Arenson Jan. 17, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,201 Great Britain 1907 222,735 Great Britain Oct. 9, 1924 

